Q: How do you bring ideas to life?
Edita Kaye: I LOVE ideas. The problem for me is that I love ideas too much. I’m always filled with ideas. Unfortunately that can be overwhelming. I simply don’t have the time or the energy to bring every single idea to life. So I go ‘old school and administer what I call “The Idea Challenge.” I get out a yellow legal pad and a pencil and make two columns. The first column is for ALL THE REASONS I SHOULD DO THIS. The second column is for ALL THE REASONS I SHOULD NOT DO THIS. Whichever column has the most items, that’s the column that determines the fate of that idea.
Q: What’s one trend that really excites you?
Edita Kaye: I’m very excited by the functional foods trend. I’m a total foodie. I love to cook. Experiment with foods, flavors, and recipes. I love reading cookbooks. So foods that are not only tasty but contain natural components that are healthy and healing is a very exciting trend and one which I following closely. In fact, I may be writing something about functional foods on my food blog, EditaKayeYummy.com. Watch for it!
Q: What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Edita Kaye: I am a very early riser. I’m usually up and having my first cup of coffee by 5 am. I think that gives me a real edge. I’m at my desk no later than 6 am. This is when I’m most energized and alert. So I get to put in at least 2 or 3 hours before the real craziness of the day begins. That’s my most productive time, and I guard it very carefully.
Q: What advice would you give your younger self?
Edita Kaye: I would definitely say, “Enjoy each moment of every day – the good moments and even the not so good moments. They are all part of your life. And that is precious.”
Q: Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Edita Kaye: I’m a big believer in a 4-day work week, but I go even further and say that I believe we shouldn’t work any later than noon. I pretty much stop working in the early afternoon and use those hours to read, to workout, to think, to refresh my body, mind and spirit. The amazing thing is, that I believe my crazy schedule makes me more – not less – productive, focused, and creative.
Q: As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Edita Kaye: Keep learning new things. Keep trying new things. Keep challenging yourself. I take loads of courses. I read a lot of books. I’m learning all the time. And it feels really good!
Q: What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how?
Edita Kaye: I am a very organized person. And I think that staying organized has been one of the most important strategies not just for my business but for all other areas of my life. Whenever I start a new project I do the following
- I make a general overview of the project
- I set goals for the project and a deadline for each goal.
- I then make a detailed ‘to do’ list of all the steps I have to take to get to my goals.
- I revisit this plan weekly to make sure I’m on track, and if not I adjust it.
This level of organization may not be for everyone, but it has really helped me stay on target.
Q: What is the best $100 you recently spent?
Edita Kaye: I recently treated myself to a professional ‘halo’ light for my home office. I love it! Like so many of us, I do a lot of Zoom meetings, and this light has made all the difference.
Q: What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Edita Kaye: I actually have two that I can recommend. First is Trello. It is a simple way to visually organize all my projects at every stage of completion. The way it’s designed is not only fun to use, but gives me a real confidence boost when I can see my progress.
The second is Canva. I don’t know how I managed before Canva came out. In my opinion it is probably the single best design program out there. In minutes I can design a social media post cover, a YouTube thumbnail, a report cover, and so much more. The results are always extremely professional looking.
Q: What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Edita Kaye: I’m a big fan of Be Your Future Self Now by Dr. Benjamin Hardy. It’s easy to read and packed with so much valuable information. It really helped me stop focusing on the past and the present, and really move into the future – a future that according to Dr. Hardy – is reachable!
Q: What is your favorite quote?
Edita Kaye: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” -Anonymous